Q: Must I be a member of a Southern Baptist Church to be eligible for service through the North American Mission Board?

A: Yes. The North American Mission Board is a mission sending organization funded and governed by Southern Baptists. To be appointed as a North American Mission Board church planting missionary, one must have been a member, in good standing, of a Southern Baptist Church for a minimum of 2 years.



Q: Are church planters who serve through the North American Mission Board paid a full-time salary?

A: There are church planting missionaries who are jointly funded, full-time, by the North American Mission Board, a Southern Baptist state convention, and a local Southern Baptist association. Additionally, there are church planters serving through the North American Mission Board who serve as Field Personnel Assistants (FPA), or Mission Service Corps (MSC). MFPs receive minimal funding and MSCs receive no funding, but each is approved by the North American Mission Board.



Q: How long does the actual appointment process take?

A: The average is 3 to 5 months. Much is dependent upon how quickly the candidate completes and returns required documents.



Q: Must I have a seminary degree?

A: Appointed missionaries must have a seminary degree. It is preferred that missionary associates have a seminary degree, but it is not required. Church Planter Interns are generally working on (completing) their seminary degree as they serve. Field Personnel Assistants (FPAs) and Mission Service Corps (MSC) are not required to have a seminary degree.



Q: If I serve as a church planter through the North American Mission Board, may I raise additional funding or seek other part-time employment?

A: "Appointed" missionaries are appointed for full-time service and are funded by the cooperative gifts from Southern Baptists. Therefore, they are not permitted to seek additional income. "Approved" missionaries (Field Personnel Assistant, Mission Service Corps) are permitted to seek other sources of income within the guidelines set forth by the North American Mission Board (LINK NAMB POLICY).



Q: Is there a reappointment process every 5 or 7 years?

A: No. Unlike some mission organizations, when you are appointed or approved as a missionary, you are approved with an open-ended term of service. Exceptions to this is appointment as a USC-2 (generally a recent college graduate with a one time two year appointment), or a CPI (Church Planter Intern - generally a seminary student who is approved or appointed for a short-term internship - i.e. Nehemiah)


If we can help you in your church planting ministry, please let us know. We also look forward to working together with you as you help others in their church planting journey. God Bless!